The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) has announced plans to embark on a three-day warning strike from Wednesday if its demands are not met.
The union said the strike is about an alleged plan to deny non-teaching staff members of polytechnics and similar institutions their rightful career progression.
It expressed concern over the ongoing redrafting of the Polytechnic Schemes of Service in relation to the Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) 15.
SSANIP said some stakeholders in the polytechnic sector were kicking against the New Unified Scheme of Service for Polytechnics in Nigeria, which allows non-teaching workers to reach CONTEDISS 15 (the equivalent of Level 17 in the civil service).
SSANIP National Secretary Nura Gaya gave the strike notice in a letter addressed to Ministers of Education; Labour and Employment; the Head of Service of the Federation (HoCSF); the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); the Executive Chairman of the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission; President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); Director-General State Security Service and the Inspector-General of Police yesterday in Abuja.
The union said the strike is a warning to underscore the seriousness of its grievances and unwavering commitment to ensuring that non-teaching workers were not marginalised or denied their deserved career progression.
It reads: “The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) wishes to formally notify your esteemed office of our decision to embark on a three-day warning strike, scheduled to commence from midnight of Wednesday, January 22, 2025 through Friday, January 24, 2025 at the first instance.
“This action has become imperative to further emphasise our position concerning the ongoing plot by certain stakeholders to unjustly deprive non-teaching staff of polytechnics and similar institutions of their rightful progression to the peak of their careers on CONTEDISS 15 on the ongoing redrafting of the Polytechnic Schemes of Service.
“SSANIP has consistently championed the cause of equity and justice within the polytechnic system and has repeatedly called for the implementation of career progression policies that accommodate both Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff. Regrettably, our previous engagements with relevant authorities have yielded little to no tangible results, and the current machinations against non-teaching staff represents a direct affront to these efforts.
“This strike is, therefore, a warning to underscore the seriousness of our grievances and our unwavering commitment to ensuring that Non-Teaching Staff are not marginalized or denied their deserved career progression which if heeded will not in any way be a deprivation to the Teaching Staff as both category of workers have distinct salary structure. We implore your office to take urgent and decisive steps to address this issue and forestall any further escalation.
“We remain open to constructive dialogue and hope that this matter will be resolved amicably to avert further disruptions in the Polytechnic system.”
